Be Careful

I’m stunned with the number of ridiculous rumors that have proliferated recently about my alma mater. Wherever I turn, people tell me the most outlandish, crazy stories that none of witnessed first-hand. Everybody heard something from somebody that heard something from somebody else.

It’s scary how easy it is to destroy reputations once you start playing the game of “broken phone.” Rumors, exaggerations, fantasies, hints – it’s all totally nuts. It’s especially disturbing that the people who so avidly spread gossip are scholars or scholars-in-the-making. We are supposed to care about evidence, knowledge, truth.

It’s sad to see people descend into the depths of insanity just because it feels nice to gossip. I spent half a day today trying to make folks see reason but it’s useless.